Baltic Event Co-Production Market
The Last Meal
Behind the stereotypical facade of hopeless alcoholics, there are fragile human beings.
Zigis and Ana, two homeless people who meet by chance, promise to help each other end this meaningless life, but life turns out to be more cunning: it teaches them to care not only for each other but also for Zigis's seven-year-old daughter.
Director's note:
The idea for this film is inspired by a true story from Latvia’s State Police press statement where a paradoxical plot led to the realization of a unique film opportunity. Growing up in a family with a history of suicide, I was prompted to delve into the motivations behind such actions. Through personal experiences and interactions with homeless individuals, a theme of loneliness and distrust emerges. The film aims to shed light on the experiences of the homeless, highlighting their humanity and struggles. With nearly a million homeless people in Europe, the storytelling challenge lies in balancing the seriousness of the topic with humour. The film's tone will be vibrant, dynamic, and humorous, portraying a life-affirming narrative of two individuals grappling with the desire for intimacy despite their urge to end their lives. Shot on real locations with a hand-held camera, the film seeks to humanize the homeless and address the complexities of trust and change in their lives.
Producer's note:
We at VFS Films are happy to work with Elza Gauja’s upcoming film “The Last Meal”. Her recent works have shown her ability to produce professional work that features many great qualities. One of the most attractive aspects of “The Last Meal” was the chosen genre - dramedy. In her previous film, we noticed Elza’s appealing sense of humour and the ability to transfer it onto the big screen for wider audiences. Locally, we don't see many screenwriters and directors who choose to use humour in their films. It has proven to be one of the most difficult forms of communication to translate in a script and later to the screen. The chosen set of problems that “The Last Meal” explores are relevant in any society. Elza’s intention to conduct this conversion in a bright tone, complementing the script with humorous episodes and dialogues, brings the viewer closer to the main protagonists and makes the film appealing for broader audiences.
Elza Gauja has written, directed and produced several short films, both documentaries and fiction, including documentary “Meanwhile in Lucavsala” and a debut narrative film “Keep Smiling, Mom!”. Elza has participated in the MFI Script 2 Film workshop, Ex Oriente Film training programme and Midpoint Series Launch 2022. Meanwhile, Elza is doing her film directing master studies at the Latvian Academy of Culture. Previously she has also studied film and theatrical acting.
2024 Postcard from Rome - director, screenwriter 2022 - Present Wonderful Emptiness (dir. Andris Gauja) - producer 2022 Keep smiling, mom - director, co-writer 2022 Meanwhile in Lucavsala - director, screenwriter 2021 Curfew - director, screenwriter 2021 The Professor and Gena - director, screenwriter 2016 BOČKA - director, co-writer 2018 Good morning, doctor! - director, co-writer, editing director
Uldis Cekulis created the independent production company VFS FILMS 25 years ago and has worked on almost 50 creative documentaries both as a producer and sometimes as a cameraman. His co-produced films have received prestigious awards, like the Shanghai IFF Golden Goblet for “Bridges of Time” the Karlovy Vary IFF Crystal Globe for “Immortal” and the Best Documentary award at the 36th Warsaw FF for “The Jump”. His Latvian-Italian co- production “The Rossellinis” premiered at the 77th Venice IFF.